A parish, and small but decayed town, giving name to the Hundred in which
it is located, in Alderbury Union, South Wiltshire, 90 miles south west from
London, and 7 miles south-east by south from Salisbury, is situated in a vale,
watered by the Upper Avon, in three channels; it is of considerable antiquity,
and formerly returned tow members to Parliament, in the interest of the Earl of
Radnor, but was disfranchised by the Reform Act of 1832.

The market has long been discontinued, but two annual fairs are still
held on 23rd April and 2nd October, principally for horses and sheep.

A castle of considerable dimensions existed here at an early period,
which, from its position commanded the river Avon and the valley in which it
stood. The only remains, a large conical mound, and other lofty earthworks have
been formed into terraces, amidst the plantations of a garden.

The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Salisbury, returned of the
annual value of £571 and in the patronage of Winchester College; the Rev.
Richard Payne, B.C.L. is the present vicar. The Church, dedicated to St.
Lawrence, is an ancient structure, with nave, chancel, and square tower, which
was raised 30 feet in its height, in 1791, at the expense of the Earl of
Radnor. In the chancel are several monuments to the Duncombe family; the
principal are those of Anthony, Lord Feversham, of Downton, who died in 1763,
and of Sir Charles Duncombe who died in 1711.

A new church, with small belfry and spire in the ancient style of
architecture, and dedicated to All Saints, was erected at Charlton, in this
parish, about 1854; the Rev. Henry Osborne Jenkins, M.A., is curate.

A church in the same style, and dedicated to St. Mary, has been erected
at Redlynch; the Rev. John Emra M.A., is curate. The ecclesiastical district of
Redlynch contained in 1851, 1,290 inhabitants. The Reformed Wesleyans have
recently opened a chapel here.

There are several Dissenting places of worship, as well as National and
British schools. Here are paper and corn mills, and a tanyard; malting is also
carried on to a considerable extent, and there is brick making and lime
burning.

On a high hill, overlooking Downton from one side of the Lymington Road
is an entrenched area, called Clerbury Camp.

The parish comprises about 1,200 acres of good arable pasture soil. The
population, in 1851, was 3,898, with 13,221 acres; the population of the town
is 2,727.

Woodfalls, Pensworth, Barford, Titchbourn and Lushingar are in the
parish. The tithings are Charlton, Church, East Downton, Hamptworth, Wick and
Walton, and Witherington with Langley Wood, extra-parochial.